Her Vampire Mate (10 page)

Just as he swung at the man in front of him, another man punched him in the kidneys from behind. The man in front of him escaped his fist and came back with an uppercut that caught Antonio in the jaw.

Antonio stumbled and managed to grab one of his attackers and shove him to the floor so Antonio landed on top of him. He pushed himself to top speed and landed a few punches before leaping to his feet. He planned to take care of the one remaining opponent but when he turned he saw three men ready for him.

Jennalynn fought a few feet away, her hands full, landing blow after blow on five different men at once. He wasn’t surprised she was fourth in her pack. But as for him—unless the men wanted to wait for him to concoct a poison, his best skills were useless right now.

The three men advanced on him. He kicked out at one of them and landed a good blow to his stomach but just as quickly another man came up from behind and grabbed his arms. Soon two men were holding his arms while a third landed blows along his torso and head and there was nothing, nothing he could do. Vampires had speed but no extra strength.

He lost count of the blows. His entire body hurt. When he managed to open his eyes, all he saw was blood. His blood, pooling on the floor. Had they cut him?

A scream rent the air and the man pummeling him went flying. A second later the men holding his arms let go and he fell to his knees. Around him, his beautiful avenging angel punched and kicked them until they stopped fighting. Then she picked him up like a baby and carried him out to the street.

***

Jennalynn had never seen anyone bleed so much. Panic clawed its way up from her belly and she ruthlessly shoved it down. She had no time to panic. If she didn’t get Antonio some help she’d lose her mate before she’d even caught him.

All they had for transportation was his damned motorcycle and she wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold on for the trip. But the alternative was to take a cab and she couldn’t picture any drivers wanting to pick them up when they were both covered in blood. If he weren’t a vampire, she’d find an alley for them to hole up in for a few hours, but they didn’t have the time. It was less than two hours until dawn and he needed shelter.

She strode to the motorcycle and sat him on the back of it. Then she cupped his face and turned it toward her. “Are you awake?”

He moaned something she couldn’t make out.

“You’ve got to hold on. I’m going to drive, but you need to hold onto me and not fall off. Got it?”

He nodded, once.

That would have to do. She didn’t want to wait around any longer. So she climbed on in front of him, leaving the helmets in the saddlebags, and started the engine. She wrapped his arms around her and felt him lean against her back. As she pulled away from the curb, several angry men stumbled out of Dante’s and watched her drive away.

Twenty minutes later, she carried him from the motorcycle into the motel. She’d spent the entire trip worrying that he’d fall off and re-securing his grip on her every few minutes. When she got him into their room, she laid him on the bed.

Now what?

She peeled his clothes off, taking special care where they were stuck to his body by the blood. She saw several scrapes where he must have taken hits and darkening areas where he was bruising. But it wasn’t until she pulled his pants off that she saw the deep slice in his stomach. It still oozed blood.

“Oh, Antonio.”

He looked dangerously pale and had passed out somewhere between the motorcycle and the hotel room door. She could use his advice right now. Except…she had a feeling she knew exactly what he needed.

Blood.

What else? Her mate needed blood to live. She suspected he’d been low to start with and now he’d lost a bunch more. If she wanted him to live, she needed to feed him.

The fluttering in her belly multiplied. She couldn’t feed him. She couldn’t stand the thought of fangs sinking into her, sucking her blood. Already she felt the panic of the young girl trapped by a man bigger and stronger than her. She felt like running.

She couldn’t. How could she let Antonio die? Forget the whole mating thing or that her life was on the line as much as his. She genuinely liked him. She didn’t want him to die.

He groaned and his eyes fluttered.

“Antonio?” She had to feed him. She’d just have to deal with it somehow. She brushed her fingers down his cheek. “Are you awake? I need to feed you, honey.”

He opened his eyes. “You can’t.”

“You’re going to die if I don’t. So tell me the best way to do this.”

“I don’t want to scare you.”

“We’re past the point of being able to choose. You need blood. So unless I go grab some other poor soul and make them donate, you’ve got to get it from me.”

He swallowed. “All right. Your wrist would be best. I don’t have the strength to hold my head up to drink from your throat.” He paused a moment. “Let me spell you. That’ll make it easier on you. Otherwise, with no foreplay, this is going to hurt.”

She couldn’t stop the rush of fear that swept through her.

Antonio must have seen something in her face because he immediately said, “You’ll know what’s happening the whole time. I won’t force you to do anything and you’ll remember all of it. I just want you to feel good. I don’t want to hurt you. Trust me?”

She took a deep breath, focusing on what he’d said. Vampire or not, she did trust him. She put her hand on his chest, pushing the fear away. “Okay.”

He deflated a little. “Good. Just look into my eyes.”

As she did, she felt the oddest sensation, like he’d grabbed some part of her and held it in his silky fingers.

“You will remember everything I say and everything you do,” he said. “If at any time you want to stop, you will put your hand on my shoulder and squeeze. Lightly. When I bite you, you will feel pleasure. It will spread through your body with each pull. If you feel lightheaded, you will squeeze my shoulder. If you feel pain, you will squeeze my shoulder. If you panic or feel afraid, you will squeeze my shoulder. Do you understand everything I’ve said?”

She heard his words and understood them but it was like she was underwater. “Yes.”

“Put your non-dominant wrist to my mouth and make yourself comfortable.”

She lifted her left wrist and touched it to his lips while moving herself into a better position.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

He bit.

Chapter 10

Antonio barely knew what he was doing. He made sure Jennalynn wouldn’t hurt and then he bit her, thinking only of the gnawing ache of hunger and the need to heal.

But as soon as the tart taste of her blood hit his tongue, he knew. This woman, this amazing woman, was his.

He had just enough strength to lift his hand and grasp her forearm, rubbing her skin in a soft caress. His. And she trusted him enough to overcome her fear and allow him to drink from her, even though she didn’t know if she was his, didn’t know that he’d sooner die than hurt her.

When he’d taken just barely enough blood to heal, he released her wrist, licking it to allow some of the healing properties of his saliva to seal up the wounds. Then he released her from the bespellment. “Jennalynn?”

She blinked. “You’ve still got cuts.”

“They’ll heal.” He tugged her closer.

“They should have healed with the blood.”

She was right; if he’d taken more, he would have healed completely. “I took enough to heal the worst of the damage. I didn’t want to take too much blood. You have injuries of your own.” He cupped her cheek. “Amore.”

She pushed her wrist toward him. “Drink more.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. What had happened to her fear of giving blood? “I’ll heal. You’ve given enough. Now lie down beside me. I want to hold you.”

She stood up instead. “I’m covered with blood. She peeled her shirt over her head as she walked toward the bathroom. Tossing it on the floor, she said, “I’m taking a shower.”

Damn it. This should be a touching moment, where he told her what he’d discovered and then they made love.

She wanted a shower? He’d join her. He pushed to a sitting position, only then realizing he hadn’t healed quite as much as he thought. He’d had enough blood but needed more time to complete the healing process. And if he couldn’t walk across the room he’d have a hard time taking her up against the wall in the shower the way he planned.

Damn it.

***

When Robert called, Vicenzo answered the phone immediately. “It’s about time.”

“I apologize, sire. Antonio and his werewolf have been leading me on quite a chase.”

“So he’s still with the werewolf?”

“He is. And he seems closer and closer to her all the time. But there’s more. Last night, they went to a small club to watch a woman sing. I eavesdropped and I suspect they think they’ve found the world-walker.”

Finally. “Do you think Antonio might give the world-walker to this werewolf?”

“It’s possible. As I said, they seem very close. At the end of the night last night, they ended up in a fight in the club. The werewolf saved Antonio and helped him escape. They’re definitely acting like a team.”

“It’s just like Antonio to think with his dick.” It was time. He’d tell the High Council so they could swoop in and get the world-walker before Antonio could hand him over to the werewolves. And then Vicenzo could watch Antonio die.

“Stay on them. And let me know if anything else happens.”

He hung up and went to check his wardrobe. He needed just the right thing to wear when he went to the High Council.

***

By the time Jennalynn came out of the bathroom, Antonio had propped himself up on some pillows. She was surprised he was still awake. The damned male hadn’t taken enough blood to heal completely so he should at least have gotten some shut-eye.

At the same time, she felt glad he hadn’t taken more. He was right; she needed to heal too, and she was hurting in the oddest places.

But the thing that surprised her the most was that giving him blood hadn’t been frightening at all. Before, sure. But once he’d spelled her she felt calm and had even enjoyed it.

And she didn’t even want to think about what that meant.

“Come sit with me, cucciola mia.” Antonio patted the bed beside him.

“I just need to put some clothes on.”

“Forget the clothes.”

Forget the clothes. “You don’t think we’re going to have sex, do you? I can still see the bruises on your rib cage and I’ve got a few of those myself. We’re in no shape—”

“We’re in fine shape to cuddle. And I swear I can give you an orgasm without moving more than a finger.”

Shit. Why did that turn her to mush? Foul-mouthed vampire.

“Come join me. I need to tell you something.”

“Fine.” She tightened her towel around her and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed.

Faster than she knew what was happening, Antonio pulled her toward him, ripped off the towel and curled her into him so they lay face to face, his legs wrapped around hers. The towel went flying. “That’s better.”

“You’re going to hurt yourself.”

He cupped her cheek. “I’m more in danger of you hurting me if I don’t get this out.” He put his thumb over her lips. “Hush.”

She pressed her lips together but said nothing.

He stroked her cheek and hair. “I told you there are different ways vampires recognize their soulmates. That some of us need sex or blood in order to know for sure. When we made love, I didn’t feel anything different.”

“I figured.”

He pressed his finger to her lips again. “But when I tasted your blood, I knew. You’re mine.” He rubbed his finger over her mouth. “I never thought I’d have a soulmate. I’ve been blessed.” He kissed her softly.

At first, Jennalynn couldn’t make sense of the emotions rushing through her. “You’re mine?”

“Forever.”

And then she sucked in air as two tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’re mine.”

“Don’t cry, amore.”

“I’m not.”

He brushed a tear off her cheek with his thumb and held it up. “You are. But there’s no reason.”

She hugged him close and buried her face in his chest. “I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it.” He stroked her hair. “Are you sure we can’t make love?”

She laughed, her throat choked with tears. “Pretty bad timing, huh?”

“It could have been much worse. We could have gone years without knowing. How awful would that have been?”

For a moment, she imagined herself, being friends with him, sleeping with him, believing he didn’t want her for anything other than a sex toy. For years. “Awful.”

He lifted her face with a finger under her chin. “This is better.” He kissed her.

Jennalynn let herself sink into the kiss. As he held her closer, she felt the aches and pains but they seemed far in the distance. The only thing that mattered was the man in her arms and that he was truly hers. Her mate.